The Heart Of A Loving Father

"Ask of me what you will," He said as He gently pulled me on His knee. My eyes were closed but I knew it was the Father. I was cocooned in a brilliantly white, warm, peaceful embrace. My hands were glowing hot and I knew instantly that I had received the gift of healing.

I would have loved to stay there forever. It was heavenly how His love flowed over and through me. This happened years ago, but I remember it as if it was a few minutes ago. In fact, over the years whenever I have felt down, defeated, sad or lonely, I would picture myself back on that lap of complete surrender.

Isn't that the heart of the Father? I did not utter a word nor think of anything other than the feeling of perfect peace at that moment. It was truly a confirmation to me of how He knows the desires of your heart.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18: 16 - 17)

He wants his children to reach out to Him and call Him Abba, Daddy! It's not the well-memorized, nice sounding prayers that touch His heart. He responds with compassion to the childlike cries of your anguished heart crying out to Daddy for comfort and guidance.

Did you grow up without a dad, or was your father/father figure/stepfather physically, emotionally or sexually abusive towards you? You may find the notion of a tender, loving Father comforting you as His little child very difficult to perceive. But the Father promises that if you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you and if you humble yourself before Him, He shall lift you up (Jas. 4: 5; 10)

I love the story of Jacob. He was deceitful, even from childbirth as he tried to beat his twin brother out of the womb. Later on he cheated his brother out of his inheritance. But… God still loved him as a child. In fact, He revealed himself in a dream of angels ascending and descending on a ladder. He then gave him an awesome blessing to last for all generations! (Gen. 28: 12)

To me that beautiful vision depicts how the ministering angels take your prayers heavenward and return your Father's blessings to earth.

God looks at the heart. Jacob had repented and worshipped God. Years later, anxious about meeting his brother again, he again worshipped God, and then wrestled with an angel all night. He recognized that his contender was God Himself!

Like a persistent child with his daddy, so Jacob persisted with all might with his Father. God was so proud of him for persevering until he got the answer, that He changed his name to Israel. Furthermore, He referred to him as a prince because he had prevailed with God and men! (Gen. 32: 28)

Your Father loves it when you come to Daddy for all your needs! Yes; you can do as Israel did!nn· Having been made righteous by the precious blood of Jesus, you have the right to boldly talk to Father God. (Heb. 10: 19)n· God loves a contrite heart and hears the fervent prayers of a righteous person (James 5: 16)n· You'll find your Dad when you seek Him and worship Himn· He also calls you by name and reveals Himself

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us, and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (1 John 5: 14 - 15)